Husted and Brown clash over rising Ohio health costs in Senate race

The race for the U.S. Senate seat from Ohio has become one of the most expensive political contests in the country. Ad tracking firm AdImpact reported on Oct. 27 that total ad spending in the race surpassed $500 million, including future reservations.

The campaign has intensified focus on health care costs. Private insurance premiums in Ohio are expected to rise by more than 10%, according to healthinsurance.org. Meanwhile, Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums increased by an average of 18% this year, per the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.

The financial strain has driven a sharp drop in coverage. In February 2026, more than 161,000 fewer Ohioans were enrolled in ACA marketplace plans compared to the previous year. That represents a 32.4% decline. The drop followed the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies at the end of 2025.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted has targeted his opponent, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, in recent advertising. A spot from No Going Back PAC, which backs Husted, aired in October. The ad claims Brown accepted $240,000 from major insurance companies in exchange for supporting policies that benefited them. It labels Brown a shill for big insurance.

Brown responded in a video posted to his Facebook page in August. He accused Husted of voting nine times against efforts to lower premiums. Brown claimed Husted received $700,000 from the same insurance companies raising prices in the state.

The candidates also disagree on prescription drug costs. Brown stated in August in Steubenville that the government should negotiate drug prices similarly to how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles them. He cited the previous cap on insulin prices for Medicare beneficiaries as a model.

Husted said he sponsored a bill to modernize the process for selling prescription drugs over the counter. He also highlighted provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Husted said the act requires states to check Medicaid eligibility more frequently to reduce fraud. He estimated those changes will save billions of dollars.

The Medicaid changes are a point of contention. More than three million Ohioans currently receive Medicaid benefits. Advocates say the new eligibility checks could remove more than half a million Ohioans from the rolls. Brown said his opposition to that legislation was a primary reason he decided to run for the Senate again.